25th January 2015

There’s nothing like a good old fashioned love story especially when boy eventually wins girl, and Antonia and Julian are a real life example of this classic tale. Antonia’s brother and Julian were friends from their school days but it wasn’t until years later, after Antonia returned from a long stint abroad, that Julian plucked up the courage to ask her out. And the rest, as they say, is history!

A late summer wedding in the heart of the English countryside was Antonia and Julian’s dream and I was privileged to be asked to photograph their special day: an intimate affair, full of old school romance and an abundance of sunshine. From the pre-wedding celebrations through to the reception I was really made to feel like one of the family and loved capturing their journey to wedded bliss!

The couple came across the pretty church of St John’s Evangelist, East Holme and decided that it was the perfect place for them to seal their vows. Built in 1866 and situated in the heart of Thomas Hardy countryside, it was an idyllic setting for the service. The couple were surrounded by a select number of close friends and family, with Antonia’s brother performing best man duties. Antonia wore a stunning dress which she had cleverly made herself with the help of her sister and looked radiant, flanked by her two bridesmaids who were pretty in pink. The bouquets were beautifully constructed and very English cottage garden in hues of pink and white. The groom looked very dapper indeed, in top hat and tails and the wedding party showcased some wonderful outfits including fabulous hats, a kilt and a pink bow tie!

The wedding party then moved on to the picturesque Priory Hotel near the ancient market town of Wareham, situated in four acres of English cottage gardens on the banks of the river Frome. After a lively reception – drinks in the gardens followed by a meal – the bride changed into her ‘going away outfit’ – a stunning red and white polka dot dress. At 5pm pronto, the newly-weds departed in Julian’s prize car, a red Alfa Romeo 2000 convertible (nicely coordinating with Antonia’s outfit!), which the guests had decorated in the traditional ‘just married’ style – lipstick and the works! After the happy couple had left, the guests then went on to party the night away in a quaint local pub.

It was a fabulous wedding to round up my summer. Here are some photos to give you a flavour of Antonia and Julian’s special day.

25th January 2015

Seasoned festival goers James and Laura decided that the only way to celebrate their wedding was to host their very own bespoke festival – hence the one and only Wedfest was born, especially for their big day! From wristbands to space hoppers, this unique festival was definitely the main event of their summer, with romance at its heart.

The music loving couple tied the knot at Bruisyard Hall, an elegant 700 acre country estate, dating back to 1354. Located in Saxmundham, this popular wedding venue offers both modern luxury and plenty of history, in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. The estate also includes a stunning and newly renovated 17th century barn for weddings of all sizes, as well as offering stylish and comfortable accommodation for up to 24 guests.

Wedfest kicked off on a beautifully hot and sunny day in June. James and his ushers got ready together downstairs in the main hall, all sporting smart three piece combos and matching floral ties which had been cleverly embroidered on the back with the couples’ names and the date.

The girls got ready upstairs and Laura looked radiant in a floor length, delicately embroidered sleeveless dress. She held a stunning bouquet of summer blooms in romantic pinks and whites and had three gorgeous little bridesmaids by her side. The newly-weds looked picture perfect, a really beautiful couple.

After the service everyone enjoyed drinks outside, sipping from Wedfest themed jam jars through cute pink and white striped vintage style straws. There were so many quirky touches to this wedding which made it original – vinyl records were inscribed with names of all the festivals the couple had been to for table names, vintage milk bottles held creative selections of wildflowers and the obligatory (pink) wellies of course made an appearance, but in this context to display artfully constructed floral arrangements! The wedding cake was a masterfully multi-layered victoria sponge, surrounded by colourful cupcakes, all displayed on rustic logs and decorated with berries and flowers. A visual – and edible – treat!

After the meal, a fantastic live band provided a great selection of music and the guests were also treated to a Photo Booth with all the props, which caused much hilarity. As dusk fell people toasted S’mores over a fire pit, which really added to the festival atmosphere.

Wedfest was a true celebration of romance and fun, with James and Laura the headline act! This was definitely a festival to remember for many years to come.

2nd May 2014

On Saturday 19th April Pearl Pictures rocked up to Micklefield Hall, a gorgeous Hertfordshire country house venue, to showcase our work as part of their Wedding Open Day. We were one of the select suppliers who come recommended by the venue and it proved to be a fabulous event, hosted by the charming and hospitable owners Jamie and Anna Rankin, organised by Sandy at Tern Events and promoted excellently by Propose PR. Spring was definitely in the air as the sun lit up the house, the marquee and the stunning 16th century barn conversion which will be open for weddings from this October.

There was a steady flow of couples and their families visiting the venue to get inspired and brides were able to treat themselves to a complimentary mini makeover by makeup artist Jules Cardozo-Marsh and hair stylist Lorraine Newark. Not forgetting the boys, Bespoke HQ were showcasing their suave and sophisticated tailoring for all those future dapper grooms, accompanied by their dapper dachshund, a real cutie!

Our stand was in the buzzy summer marquee where guests were treated to cocktails from Arribar!, tasted fine wines and sampled a selection of amazing Asian canapés courtesy of Payal which included miniature shepherd’s pies as well as more traditional Asian bites. All absolutely delicious!

We were lucky enough to be positioned next to Kalm Kitchen‘s stand where the infinitely talented and gregarious Jen provided a stunning display of delectable sweet treats. All lenten abstinence went out of the window as the chocolate mousse was literally irresistible! Continuing on the sweet note, the lovely ladies Sam and her mother at Bite Me Bakery were showcasing their amazing wedding cakes – a business which spans three generations of talent and creativity – and to top this all off the vintage style Sweetie Carts London offered an eye-catching selection of traditional sweets to really get that sugar kick happening! All of this was enjoyed by guests who browsed the offerings whilst listening to the live entertainment and relaxed on the bespoke furniture provided by the team at Elite Hire.

The Rankins are a talented bunch and their lovely daughter Gabriella was there with her fairytale children’s party business Gabriella & Octavia as well as their sons….it is a real family affair and makes the Micklefield Hall wedding experience extra special.

Early on in the day I did little talk on ‘Top Tips for your wedding photography’, where I shared some secrets on how to get the best out of your wedding photography. It was a great session and eventuated in some lovely conversations with couples interested in finding out more about Pearl Pictures’ services which was a fantastic bonus.

If you visited our stand, thank you – Fran (my colleague) and I loved meeting you all. To find out more about Micklefield Hall and the services they offer, check out their website for more information.

1st April 2014

For all those loved-up couples looking for wedding inspiration and a quintessentially elegant English setting, look no further! On Saturday 19th April from 11am-4pm I will be showcasing my work at Micklefield Hall, a stunning Hertfordshire country house venue, as part of their Wedding Open Day. Set in 350 acres of lush countryside, this promises to be a really inspiring and interactive occasion, with so many ideas for all aspects of your wedding.

I have shot a number of weddings at Micklefield Hall, all of which have been uniquely fabulous in their own right! The house and gardens really do provide a beautiful backdrop to weddings of all sizes and, in addition to the current venue offerings, this October will see the opening of a 16th century barn conversion which we’ll be able to sneak a peek at, courtesy of the venue owners Jamie and Anna Rankin.

The Open Day will give couples a real sense of the many options available to them, including the summer marquee which will be styled for a wedding, as well as many of Micklefield Hall’s hand-picked suppliers offering samples of their high-quality services.

Brides can also treat themselves to a complimentary mini makeover by makeup artist Jules Cardozo-Marsh and hair stylist Lorraine Newark…all of this can be enjoyed with a cocktail in hand whilst listening to the live entertainment…it really does sound like a great day out!

Come and find me to say hi and to discuss any of your wedding photography needs – it would be great to see you there! I’m also doing a little talk on ‘Top Tips for your wedding photography’, where I will be telling you a few little secrets on how to get the best out of your photography.

In the meantime, please take a look at the pictures below of weddings that myself and my second photogapher, David, have photographed at Micklefield Hall…